Vehicle



Nov. 23

G. F. MYERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 23 1926.

G. F. MYERS VEHICLE manna at. at, flare.

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VEHICLE.

Urlginal application filed august 28, 1909, Serial No. 514,165. Divided and this application filed December 1, 1918, Serial No. 134,550. Renewed December 12, 1924.

This invention relates to vehicles, and particularly to that class thereof that are used in warfare.

The object of the invention is to transa port heavy bodies through the air especially guns, cannon or other instruments of destruction.

lit consists of a gun or cannon or other instrument of destruction that can be turned in an direction on the vehicle.

lit further consists in improved means for supporting and operating the gun or cannon or other instrument of destruction. lit also consists in certain novel features, which l5 will now be described and then particularly pointed out in the claims.

This application is a division of my application dated August 23, 1909, and serially numbered 514,165. 7

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vehicle Embodying my invention equipped for warare.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view, on an enlarged scale of the gun-or cannon bearing part, or projectile compartment, of the vehicle.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the same.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partly insection.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The vehicle is constructed and operated substantially and preferably as follows, it being understood that the same may be used as an aeronautical vehicle, or as a vehicle adapted to travel at speed over the surface of the earth in which case the aeroplanes take 0E more or less of the weight of the machine from the earth engagin means.

The invention consists of or includes or comprises-which is to say that besides other things the vehicle or aerial war machine has-a main frame having the general form 45 of a hollow or tubular horizontal cylindrical body which is provided with conical front and rear ends and comprises a plurality of transverse circular girders 1 arranged axially in line, a plurality of longitudinal girders 2 connecting the several circular girders at different parts of their peripheries, and front and rear heads 3, 4 with which the front and rear ends, respectively, of the longitudinal girders are connected. Each of the circular girders consists of an outer circular bar, ring or hoop 5, an inner circular bar, hoop or ring 6 arranged concentrically within the outer ring and in the same transverse plane, and spacing pieces, blocks or struts 7 arranged between the int0 ner and outer rings and connected therewith by bolts, screws, rivets or other suitable means.

In order to complete a conical formation at each end of the frame a conical nose or nose piece 19 of sheet metal or other suitable material is secured with its base to the outerside of the flat head of the frame, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

For the purpose of stiffening the girders .of the frame, tension members, ties, guys or wires 20'are rovided which extend diagonally or obhquely relatively to different parts of the frame in all available directions and which are secured at suitable 7% points to the frame work so as to rigidly connect different members of the frame and securely unite them.

If desired, a skin or covering may be applied to the outerside of the frame to proso tect the parts within the frame, which covering may be transparent either wholly or in parts. The Vehicle is mounted on. wheels 90, 91; and may have skids if desired.

Near the front or rear ends and the cenif ter of the frame or body of car or fuselage the same carries front, rear end central sets of planes 27 operated by the cords37, 38, whereby the machine is raised in the air when designed to travel principally through at the said medium.

The said cords turn the said planes 27 of the front, middle and rear sets of planes on their axes one independently of the other. Other cords curve the difierent sets of a5 planes from flat to curve planes. Some of the said planes extend over the car, some below the same, and some are constructed in sections and extend on either side of the car.

49 represents a air of propellers which move the machine orwardly and which are mounted on brackets 50" rejecting laterally from opposite sides of t e machine in rear of the foremost set of planes. The motor 51 for driving the propellers is arranged within the main frame between the operators compartment and the propellers and may be operatively connected with the latter in any suitable manner. This motor is of the internalcombustion or hydrocarbon type and its gasolene supply or liquid fuel tanks 52 are arranged above the same within the frame. Suspended from the underside of the main frame near opposite ends thereof are two asolene storage tanksor reservoirs 53, 54 from which the gasolene may be withdrawn as required and delivered to the supply tanks 52 by means of a pump 55 in the operators compartment. By this means the Weight of the main supply of gasolene is distributed over the length of the main frame and prevents unbalancing the machine.

56 is the upright rudder for steering the machine which is pivoted vertically to the rear part of the main frame and bifurcated, so that it can straddle the conicalrear end of the frame or body, as shown in Figure 1. One of the important problems to be solved, in aerial navigation, is that of the stability of the aerodyne, both as regards its longitudinal axis and transversely; i. e.

to keep it from pitching and rolling. The

stabilizers or ailerons 62, 63, will rotate or roll or point the gun or other instrument of destruction 800, and its charge and projectile or the like, around the longitudinal axis of the vehicle; the elevator or elevators 27, either fore or aft or together, will depress or pitch or point the said gun or the like around the transverse axis of the vehicle; and the rudder 56 will twist or turn or point the said gun or thelike around the vertical axis of the vehicle. Or the same controls will prevent the pitching and rolling or turning of the said gun or the like on thesaid principal axes of the vehicle in 'case it be desired to do so. In order to turn the vehicle on its longitudinal axis the stabilizing means 62 and 63 are employed. The

. stabilizers may be operated manually or antomatically.

For the purpose of enabling the'operator while seated in his compartment to observe.

- the space ahead of the machine without ne-' cessitating turning his head toward either side of the machine two pivotable periscopes 59, may be employed.

For use in warfare the vehicle is provided with a cannon or other instrument of de-\ struction 800 which is arranged above the body or frame in rear of the stabilizer.

represents a platform or circular track arranged horizontally in the turret or gun ners compartment in the frame or body and surrounding an opening of substantially the moaioe this purpose or otherwise. Within the gunners compartment and projecting upwardly through an opening in the top of this compartment is a horizontally rotatable carriage 82 which has an unobstructed interior and which comprises a lower circular base or ring provided with wheels 83 running on the track 80 and a pair of standards oroblique members 84 which project upwardly from opposite sides of the base through the top opening of the gunners compartment and to the upper ends of which above the main frame or body, the cannon is pivoted by means of horizontal triinnions 85. By turning the carriage horizontally in the frame and the cannon vertically on the carriage it is possible for the gunner to aim the cannon in all directions within a hemisphereabove the frame or body of the machine and even downwardly through the body, both bottom and sides into different parts of a conical field or zone of fire if desired, there by commanding practically the entire space around the flying machine and affording the maximum capacity for attack or defense.

The projectile, bullet, bomb, or other instrument ofestruction used in the said cannon or other like instrument in the said attack or defense may be discharged therefrom in any convenient manner. 7

The carriage is provided with a seat 86 for the gunner whereby the latter .is supported by the carriage and remains ina definite location relative to the cannon as the carriage is rotated.

When the cannon is aimed horizontally above the frame, or nearly so, as shown by full lines in Fig. 5 the gunner is aided by looking directly into and forwardly through a telescope 87 securedlengthwise to one side of the cannon. If, however, the cannon is pointed upward or downward the gunner is enabled to look conveniently through the telescope by means of a mirror or periscope i 88 which is pivotally supported on arms or links 89 which turn concentrically with the fulcrum of the cannon on the cannon bridge.

When the cannon is pointed upwardly the periscope isarranged at an angle below the same, so as to enable the glmner to sight the cannon through the telescope in this position of the cannon while upon pointing the cannon downwardly the periso e. for this purpose is adjusted into an an n ar position above the cannon.

The gunners opening or turret or-compartment or cockpit or section as shown is longitudinally disposed to the aero sustaining or lifting, or supporting means as well as the operators or pilots opening or cockpit or the like and of different cross sec- L608, 109 Ill;

tion if desired; the latter being of curved or circular cross section, and the former of angular or square cross section. 1

The trunnions 85 are mounted adjacent to a vertical line passing substantially through the center of the said platform or circular track and project above the upper surface of the frame or body or fuselage, the gunner when seated on the seat 86 being partly in and partly out of or above the said 0 wing or cockpit. The said platform, the said carriage, the said trunnions and the said gun when in its vertical position are encompassed by the vertically projected outerwall or sides of the cockpit. 'Ihe oariage when travelling overthe said circular track is so arranged that the gunner when seated on the said seat 86 is partly inside-the said carriage 82 and u. rights or standards 84, and moves himself and the said carriage whenever he turns the said gun to fire in a different direction. The gun when fired in a perpendicular direction to the longitudinal center line of the machine, especiallyif this be in'the downward direction, is partly.

within or below the top portion of the body. The pilots section contains the operating means for controlling'and guiding the ma-;

chine leaving the gunner free to manipulate the gun. The gunners position or seat 86 is, as can be readily seen, in the rear of and above the middle or lower planes of the front set of sustaining devices 27, and also in the rear of and above the pilots position or seat 41, the motor 51 and the hubs of the propellers 49; and both the pilots seat, and that of the gunner, are mounted between the leading edges of the front set of planes and the trailing edges of the rear set of planes. And the middle or central set of planes is between the said two positions or seats.

It will also be noted that the second plane from the top lies.in contact with the top portion of the fuselage; and that the fourth plane from the top lies in contact with the bottom portion of the same; and that bpth extend across and on each side thereof.

As my invention-is insome of its aspects generic, I do not limit myself to the particular construction and operation shown or described, but also contemplate the employ ment of such equivalents as fairly fall within the scope of my claims.

In this connection I maystate that I do not limit myself to the gun being inthe shape of a cannon, as any other shape or kind of an instrument of destruction may be employed. The gun may have its mounting adjacent to the upper or uppermost por-.

tion of the machine or the fuselage or the carrying portion thereof, as shown in a companion application to said 514,165, namely, one filed July 17,1909 and serially numbered 508,208, where I show a gun and its universal mounting wholly above the top of the body or carrying place and adapted to fire unobstructedly in the upward direction unhindered by the sustaining, directing and controlling-means of the machine; and the said gun was also adapted to fire in the downward direction.

The lifting, supporting or sustaining means, or aeroplanes may be rectangular in shape as shown, or the same may be annular, as shown in my application filed May 31, 1904 and serially numbered 210,486, now Patent 995,550; or of any other shape or kind. Or the said sustaining means may be helicopters as in a companion application tothe' said 210,486, namely one filed January 29, 1897 and serially numbered 621,233; or they may be of the ornithopter type as shown in another companion application filed June 30, 1905, and serially numbered 267,804.

Instead ofmounting the stabilizing means on longitudinal axes as shown herein, I may mount them on transverse axes and operate themeither as shown in said 267,804, or as shown in an application filed December 5, 1908 and serially numbered 466,080, that is either manually and separately, or automaticall or I may mount them on vertical axes an operate them as shown in another companion application filed July 9, 1909 and serially numbered 506,817, that is with a joy tures shown, the number and position of certain-elements used, as well as the character of the motive power employed, withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention. I claim:

I 1. In a flying machine of the heavier than 1 air type, the combination of a body elongated in form and extending in the direction of travel, an aeroplane supporting surface transversely disposed with reference to the main body and projecting laterally therebeyond, said main bodyhaving a cockpit longitudinally removed from said trans verse aeroplane, a platform carried by said main body and disposed within said cockpit,'a gun carriageadjustable in a horizontal I plane about said platform, a gunm'ounted on said carriage which is capable of adjustment in the vertical planes for firing 1n the upward direction, means for propelling and directing'the movements of said aircraft and the gun, whereby the craft may be driven to the point desired and the gun may be fired unobstructedly in the upward direction unhindered by the sustaining, propelling and controlling means of the craft.

2. In aflying machine of the heavier than air type, the combination of a body elongated in form and extending in the direction of travel, an aeroplane supporting surface transversely disposed with reference to the main body and projecting laterally therebeyond, said mam body having a cockpit at a point longitudinally removed from said transverse aeroplane, a platform carried by said body and disposed within the cockpit, a carriage mounted on said platform which is capable of adjustments in the horizontal plane, a gun borne by said carriage at a point elevated substantially on a level with the upper part of said main body, said un being capable of adjustments in the vertical planes for fire in upward directions, means for propelling and directing the movements of said craft, whereby the craft may be propelled and directed to the oint desired and the gun may be fired uno structedly in the upper direction unhindered by the sustaining, propelling and controlling means.

11 aflying machine of the heavier than air type, the combination of a body elongated in form and extending in the direction of travel, an aeroplane supporting surface transversely disposed with reference to the main body and projecting laterally therebeyond, said aeroplane being disposed slightly above the level of the main body up or surface and-said main body having a 000 it at a point longitudinally removed from said transverse aeroplane, said cockpit being large enough 'to accommodate the mounting of a gun and an'operator, a circular runway carried by said main body and disposed about the cockpit, a gun carriage mounted on the circular ring and capable of adjustments in the horizontal plane, a gun,

borne by said carriage at a point elevated substantially on a level with the upper part of said main body, said gun bein capable of adjustments in the vertical p anes for fire in upward directions, means for propelling and directing the movements of said craft, whereby the craft may be propelled and directed to the point desired and the gun may be fired unobstructedly in the upper direction unhindered by the sustaining propelling and controlling means.

4. In a flying machine of the heavier than air type, the combination of a body elongated in form and extending in the direction of travel, an aeroplane supporting surface transversely disposed with reference to the main body and projecting laterally thereheyond, said main bodyhavmg a cockpit longitudinally removed from said transverse aeroplane, a circular platform carried by said main body within the cockpi'tand disposed below the level of the upper surface of the main body, a gun carriage adjustable in a horizontal plane about said platform and adapted to carry a gun support'slightly. above the level of the upper surface ofhindered by the sustaining propelling and controlling means of the craft.

5. In aflying machine of the heavier than air t pe, the combination of a body elongate in form and extending in the direction of travel, an aeroplane supporting surface transversely disposed with reference to the main body and projecting laterally therebeyond, said main body having a cockpit longitudinally removed from said transverse aeroplane, a circular ring carried by said main body within the cockpit and disposed near the bottom thereof, a gun carriage adjustable ina horizontal plane about said circular ring and having standards projecting upwardly through the cockpit to a point substantially on a level with the upper surface of the main body, a gun mounted on said standards which is capable of adjustment in the vertical planes for firing in upward directions, means for propelling and directing the movements of said aircraft'and the gun, whereby the craft may be driven to the point desired and the gun may be fired unobstructedly in the upward direction unhindered by the sustaining propellin andcontrolling means of the craft.

6. 1i a flying machine of the heavier than air t pe, the combination of a body elongate in form and extending in the direction of travel, an aeroplane supporting surface transversely osed with reference to the main'body an projecting laterally therebeyond, saidmain body having a cockpit longitudinallp removed from said transverse aeroplane, a circular runway carried byisaid main body and disposed about said cockpit, a gun carriage mounted on said runwa and adjustable in a horizontal plane therea out, a 11 mounted on said carriage which is capa leof adjustment in the vertical planes for firing in.upward and down? ward directions, and means for'propelling and directing the movements of said aircraft and the gun, whereby the craft may be driven to the point desired and the gun may be fired unobstructedly in the upward directions and within the zone .of the cockpit in the downward directions unhindered by the sustaining, propelling and controlling means of the craft. 7 v

ing an open bottom gun compartment in the body thereof, a gun carriage, a gun and gun bearings therefor upon said carriage and adapted to be shifted so that the gun can be trained above and directly below said aeroplane and also horizontally in substantially any direction. 7

8. In combination with an aeroplane having an open bottom gun compartment in the body thereof, a gun carriage and longitudinally disposed from the aerofoil of the aeroplane. a gun, and gun bearings therefor upon said carriage adapted to be shifted so that said gun can be trained above or directly below said aeroplane and also horizontally in substantially any direction.

9. .In combination with an aeroplane having an open bottom gun compartment in the body thereof, a gun carriage and longitudinally disposed from the aerofoils of said aeroplane and in longitudinal alignment therewith, a gun, and gun bearings therefor upon said carriage adapted to be shifted so that said gun can be sighted upon an object above or directly below said aeroplane or laterally thereof.

, 10. In a flying machine of the heavier than air type, the combination of an inclosed body elongated in form and extending in the direction oftravel, a sustaining device transversely disposed with relation to the said body and projecting therebeyond, said body having anopening therein or cockpit, a latform or circular track carried by the sald body and disposed about the said opening, a gun carriage adjustable in a horizontal plane about the said platform, trunnion means mounted on the said carriage, a gun mounted on ,the said trunnion means which is capable of adjustment in the vertical direction, the said platform, carriage, trunnion means and the said gun when in its position for firing in the vertical direction being encompassed by the projection of the outer wall or sides of the said cockpit, and means for propelling and directin the movements of the machine and the said gun whereby the machine may be driven to the point desired and the gun fired unobstructedly in the upward direction unhindered by the sustaining, ropelling and controlling means of themac ine.

11. In a flying machine of the heavier than air type, the combination of an enclosed body elongated in form and extending in the direction of travel, a sustaining device transversely disposed with relation to the said body and projecting, therebeyond, said body having an opening or cockpit therein, a platform or circular track carried by the said body and disposed about the said opening, a gun carriage adjustable in a horizontal plane about the said platform,

trunnion means projecting from the said carriage, a gun mounted on the said trunnion means and which is capable of adjustment in the vertical direction, and when trained upwardly perpendicularly to the longitudinal center line of the said body is so mounted as to project below the top of the same, and means for propelling and directing the movements of the machine and the said gun whereby the machine may be driven to the point desired and the gun fired unobstructedly in the upward direction unhindered by the sustaining, propelling andcontrolling means of the machine.

12. In a flying machine of the heavier than air type, the combination of an enclosed body elongated-in form and extending in the direction of travel, a sustaining device transversely disposed with relation to the said body and projecting therebeyond, said body having an opening or cockpittherein, a platform or circular track carried by the said body and disposed about the said opening, a gun carriage adjustable in the horizontal plane about the said platform, trunnion means mounted on the said carriage and movable therewith, a gun mounted on the said trunnion means and which is capable of adjustment in the verticaldirection and when fired perpendicularly is enclosed in part within the said cockpit, and means fon propelling and directing the movements of the machine and the said gun whereby the machine may be driven to the point desired and the gun fired unobstructedly in the upward direction unhindered by the sustaining, propelling and controlling meansof the machine.

13. A flying machine of the heavier than "air type, the combination of an enclosed body elongated inform and extending in the direction of travel, a sustaining device transversely disposed with relation to the said body and projecting therebeyond, said body having an opening or cockpit therein,

a platform or circular track carried by the said body and disposed about the said open-' ing, a gun carriage adjustable in a horizontal plane about the saidlplatfo-rm, trunnion means on the said carriage and movable therewith, a gun mounted on the said trunnion means and which is capable of adjustment in the vertical direction, a sighting device for aiming the said gun when in its vertical positions without sighting along the center line of the same, and means for propelling and directing, the movements of the machine and the said gun whereby the machine may be driven to the point desired and the gun fired unobstructedly in the upward direction unhindered by the sustaining, propelling and controlling means of the machine.

14. In combination with an aeroplane provided with a gun compartment having an opening in the bottom thereof, a gun carriage, and a gun movable on the said ing in the bottom thereof, a gun carriage. carriage and adapted to be shifted so that and a n movable on the said carriage and l the same can be trained directly above the adapte to be shifted so that the same can aeroplane, and directly below the aeroplane be trained directly above the aeroplane through the said opening. through the upper opening, and can be 15. In combination with an aeroplane trained directly below the said aeroplane provided with a gun compartment having through the lower openin an opening in the top thereof, and an open- GEORGE FRAICIS MYERS. 

